Rotary engine.



No. 790,356. PATENTBD MAY 23, 1905.

" A.P.FORD.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIUATIION FILED syn. 1a. 1904;

-2 SHEETS-'SHIIBT l.

Witnesss Inven or Httomegs PATENTED MAY 23, 1905 A. F.FORD. ROTARY ENGINE. APPLIOATIOF FILED 811F113, 1904;

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses v g/mfi No. waste.

UNITED STATES Patented May as, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iaetters Patent No. 790,356, dated May 23, 1905. Application filed September 13, 1904. Serial No. 224,284.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known-that 1, ANDREW F. FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colfax, in the county of Whitman and State of Washington, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary engines, and has for one of its objects to provide a novel form of engine in which movable abutments are placed under the control of the valve-operating mechanism, steam or other fluid under pressure being admitted at intervals to the abutment-chambers and serving to force the abutments in position in the r 1 and 2, suitably bolted together, a bed-plate steam-space of the cylinder. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a steam-controlled abutment movable to operative position when subjected to the action of steam-pressure and returning automatically to inoperative position when the pressure is relieved.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotary steam-engine in which a overnor-controlled eccentric is employed for actuating the valves, the position of the eccentric being controlled by the speed of the engine. 7.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of reversible rotary engine in which the eccentric may be shifted to properly operate the valve in either direction of movement of the engine.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a rotary engine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the engine on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4

is a detail sectional plan view of a portion of the valve-operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the various parts of the eccentric and its adjusting and carrying mechanisms detached. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of a portion of the engine, illustrating particularly the connections between the two sliding abutments. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the piston. Fig.8 is a detail view of portions of the eccentric carrying and adjusting devices.

Similar numerals of reference denote like characters in the different figures of the drawings.

The cylindercomprises two main sections 3 being formed integral with one of said sections, and in eachof the sections is a bearing for the reception of a transversely-disposed shaft 4, on which is mounted a piston-drum 5. The piston-drum in the present instance is in the form of a comparatively thin metallic disk, to which is secured a radial pistonwing 6, circular in form and fitting within an annular steam-space 7, formed partly in both sections of the cylinder. The piston-wing has an annular groove for the reception of a packing-ring 8, which may be of any suitable size and construction. I

At diametrically opposite points 011 the cylinder are arranged steam-chests 9 and 10, each containing an oscillatory valve 11, and, if desired, the steam may enter directly to the interior of the valve and from thence be directed to the steam-space of the cylinder. Each valve is provided with a projecting stem 12, to which is secured a rocker-arm 13, and the rocker-arms are coupled for mutual movement by a link 14, so that when one valve opens to admit steam to the cylinder the other will be closed, and vice versa.

In the casing of each steam-chest is an abutment-guiding chamber 15, that is in communication with the steam-space of the cylinder. The walls of the latter are arovided with grooves following the lines of the abutment-pieces, and the walls of the grooves and recess form supports for a radially-movable abutment 16, two of such abutments being employed in the present instance. The

abutments are wedge-shaped, their thinnest edges being nearest the axis of the piston, while the broader and thicker ed es are disposed within the abutment-guiding chambers or recesses and there exposed to the action of steam entering through ports 17 under the control of the valves 11, and when steam is admitted to one or other of these recesses the abutment contained therein will be forced outward across the steam-space to form a fixed cylinder-head, between which and the movable piston-wing the steam may act expansively.

From one side of each of the abutments extends a rod 20, to which is secured an arm 21, having an opening for the reception of a rod 22, and said rod is preferably secured to the corresponding arm of the mating abutment. Around the rod is coiled a helical compression-spring 23 that tends to keep the arms 21 separated, and when either abutment is relieved from the pressure of steam the spring will restore it to inoperative position.

In the casing of each steam-chest are two ported valves 24 and 25, and from the chambers in which these valves are contained lead three ports, said ports controlling or directing the flow of steam to and from the steamspace of the cylinder. One port 26 is in communication with the steam-space, a second port 27 leads to the cut-off valve 11, and the third port 28 leads to the exhaust. The stems of these valves extend out through suitable stufling-boxes and are coupled in pairs by intermeshing segments 29 and 30. The segments 29 are connected by a line 31, and from one of said segments extends a reversing-lever 32, which may be operated to direct the course of the steam so that when one port 25 serves as an inlet the opposite port 25 is an exhaust, and if one port 24 is an inlet-port the opposite port 24 becomes an exhaust-port.

Before describing the valve operating and governing mechanism it will be well to note the sim licity of the operation of the mechanism t us far described. By properly adjusting the reversing-valve 32 one steamport 24 at one side of the engine and a steamport 25 at the opposite side of the engine become steam-inlets and the remaining ports serve as exhausts. Steam is first admitted through one of the valves 11 to the valve 24 and to the adjacent abutment-guiding recess, the abutment being forced outward into the steam-space immediately after the passage ofthe piston-wing and the volume of steam entering between the abutment and the wing forcing the latter around to the opposite side of the cylinder. At this opposite side of the cylinder communication between the cut-offvalve chamber and the abutment-guiding recess is closed and the abutment has been returned byspring 23 to inoperative position.

Any dead steam in advance of the piston wing is free to escape through the port 26, leading to the valve 24 and to the: exhaust; but immediately after the passage of the piston-wing beyond the abutment-recess the abutment will be projected by pressure of steam entering from the adjacent cut-off valve. Steam is then directed through the ports controlled by the valve 25 and escapes at the opposite side of the cylinder through the corresponding port 25.

To the main shaft 4 is secured a disk 35 to which is pivoted an eecentric-carrying plate 36, that is provided with a segmental slot 37 of a width suflicicnt to permit the f rec pas sage of the shaft. To the governor-disk 35 is pivoted a weighted governor-arm 38, movable outward under the influence of centrifu gal force, and this arm is coupled to the plate 36 by a slotted link 39, so that in case the speed of the engine increases to an abnormal extent outward movement of the governorarm will result in a change of position of the plate 36. The plate 36 carries an eccentric 40, carrying an eccentric-strap 41 that is connected by a rod 42 to a rocker-arm 13 on one of the cut-off-valve stems. The position of the eccentric determines the extent of opening movement of the valve, and consequently the speed of the engine, so that if this speed is either increased or din'iinished the position of the eccentric will be changed and the cutoff valves opened to a less or to a greater extent, as required.

When the direction of rotation. of the engine is reversed, it becomes necessary to reverse the position of the eccentric. To accom )lish this, a grooved sleeve 45 is secured to t re main shaft 4, and said sleeve is con nected by a slotted link 46 to the plate 36, the slot permitting free passage of the shaft 4. Fitting in the grooved sleeve is a ring 48, connected to the bifurcated end of a lever 49, pivoted to a bracket 50.

As the eccentric-carrying plate 36 is swung on its )ivotpin the movement will be transmittecf through the link 46 to the slidable sleeve 45, and the latter will be moved lengthwise of the shaft to an extent dependent on the extent of movement of the plate 36. If the operating-lever 49 of the collar is rigidly locked, the eccentric will be maintained in one position, but if the lever 49 is loose it will move to and fro with the collar, as dic tated by the governor.

When the engine is to be reversed, the le ver 49 is shifted, moving collar 45 longitudinally of the shaft. This effects swinging movement of the plate 36 and shifts the position of the eccentric to correspond to the direction in which the piston is to revolve.

One of the principal advantages of the engine resides in the fact that the abutment must be moved to operative position within the steam-space within the cylinder before escape of the steam through the adjacent eX- haust-port. This construction is plainly illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein the abutment to the left of the engine is shown in operative position with steam entering through the. ports controlled by the valve 24, while steam is escaping through the ports controlled by the opposite valve 24 and by the valve 25 at the left of the cylinder. The traveling piston-wing 6 is approaching the abutment at the right of the cylinder, and after passing such abutment the steam-valve 18- at the left will be closed, permitting the spring 23 to return the abutment to its position within the recess, while the steam-inlet valve 17 at the right will be open immediately after the passage of the piston-wing, thereby to admit steam through the ports controlled by the valve 25. The positions of the parts are of course properly adjusted by lockingthe disk to the shaft in a position determined by the position of the piston-wing 6.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rotary engine, a cylinder having an abutment-guiding recess, a tapering abutment having its thicker end within the re cess, said abutment being movable outward into the steam-space of the cylinder under fluid-pressure, andmeans for restoring said abutment to inoperative position when relieved from pressure. I

2. The combination in a rotary engine, of

v a cylinder having a steam-space, a piston, a

pair of steam-actuated abutments, arms secured to the abutments, a rod connecting said arms, and a helical spring tending to separate the arms and restore the abutmentsto inoperative position. v

3. The combination in a rotary engine, of a cylinder having an abutment-containing recess, an abutment disposed therein, a cutoff valve having ported communication With said recess and a steam-inlet port leading from the valve to the steam-space of the cylinder.

4. The combination in a rotary engine, of a cylinder having a steam-space, a pair of abutments, reversing-valves arranged in pairs adjacent to each abutment and adjustable to permit one of each pair to act as an inlet and the other as an exhaust valve, a cut-ofi-valve' chamber in communication with each pair of valves, a valve in said chamber, abutment-guiding recesses, andports leading from the valve-chambers to the recesses.

5. The combination in a rotary engine, of a cylinder, a cut-off valve, a revoluble shaft, a governor-disk on the shaft, a centrifugal governor carried by the disk, a shiftable 'ec centricsupported by the disk and connected to the governor, and an eccentric-strap connected to the cut-off valve.

6. The combination in a rotary engine, of a cylinder, a piston, a cut-off valve, a main shaft, a governor-disk secured thereto, an eccentric-supporting plate pivoted to the disk, an eccentric-strap connected to the valve, a slidable collar mounted on the shaft, and a link connecting said collar to the eccentriccarryingplate.

7. The combination in a rotary engine, of a cylinder, a piston, a cut-off valve, a main shaft, a governor-disk secured to the shaft, an eccentric-supporting plate pivoted to the disk, an eccentric, a strap connecting the cocentric to the valve, a centrifugal governor connected to the eccentric-supporting plate,

I WVitnesses:

H. W. OANFIELD, R, L. MoORosKEY. 

